Mais quoi! ces ventrus sur leurs piedsN’peuvent plus supporter leur gaviot.Richepin.Gavot. SeeGavé.Gavroche,m.(familiar),Paris street boy.Faire le ——,to talk or act as an impudent boy.Gay,adj.(thieves’),ugly;queer, or “rum.”Gaye. SeeGaliote.Gayet,m.(thieves’),horse, or “prad.” Termed also “gail.”La cognade à ——,mounted police.Des gayets,rogues who prowl about the suburbs just outside the gates of Paris.C’étaient des rôdeurs de barrière ... c’étaient des gayets.—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.Gaz,m.(popular),allumer son ——,to look attentively, “to stag.”Eteindre son ——,to sleep, “to doss;”to die, “to snuff it.” SeePipe.Prendre un coup de ——,to have a dram of spirits.Gazette,f.(familiar),lire la ——,to eat nothing.Gazier,m.(popular),humbug.Gazon,m.(popular),wig, or “periwinkle;”hair, or “thatch.”N’avoir plus de —— sur la plate-bande, orsur le pré,to be bald. SeeAvoir.Se ratisser le ——,to comb one’s hair.Gazonner(popular),se faire —— la plate-bande,to provide oneself with a wig.Gazouiller(popular),to speak;to sing;to stink.Oh! la la! ça gazouille, dit Clémence en se bouchant le nez.—Zola.Géant,m.(thieves’),montagne de ——,gallows, “scrag,” “nobbing cheat,” or the obsolete expression “government sign-post.”Geindre,m.(popular),journeyman baker. Properlyto groan heavily.Gendarme,m.(popular),red herring;mixture of white wine, gum, and water;one-sou cigar;pressing iron.Général,m.(popular),le —— macadam,the street, or “drag.”Gêneur,m.(familiar),bore.Génisse,f.,woman of bad character. SeeGadoue.Géniteur,m.(popular),father.Genou,m.(familiar),bald pate.Genre,m.(familiar),grand ——,pink of fashion.C’est tout à fait grand ——,it is quite “the” thing.Se donner du ——,to assume fashionable ways or manners in speech or dress;to look affected, to have“highfalutin airs.”Genreux,adj.andm.(familiar),elegant;fashionable, “dasher,” “tsing tsing;”one who gives himself airs.Gens,m. pl.(popular),être de la société des —— de lettres,to belong to a tribe of swindlers who extort money by threatening letters, “socketers.”Gentilhomme sous-marin,m.(popular),prostitute’s bully, “ponce.” For synonyms seePoisson.Georget,m.(popular),waistcoat, “benjy.”Les rupines et marquises leur fichent, les unes un georget, les autres une lime ou haut-de-tire, qu’ils entrolent au barbaudier de castu, ou à d’autres qui les veulent abloquir.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.(The ladies and wives give them, some a waistcoat, others a shirt, or a pair of breeches, which they take to the hospital overseer, or to others who are willing to buy them.)Gerbable,m.(thieves’),prisoner who is sure to be convicted,who is“booked.”Gerbe,m.(thieves’), trial, or “patter;”sentence.Planque de ——,assize court.Le carré des petites gerbes,the police court.Gerbé,adj.(thieves’),sentenced, or “booked.”On dit qu’il vient du bagne où il était gerbé à 24 longes (condamné à 24 ans).—Vidocq.Etre —— à viocque,to be sentenced to penal servitude for life, or “settled.”Gerbement,m.(thieves’),trial; called also “sapement.”La conversation roulait sur les camarades qui étaient au pré, sur ceux qui étaient en gerbement (jugement).—Vidocq.Gerber(thieves’),to sentence.Te voilà pris par la Cigogne, avec cinq vols qualifiés, trois assassinats, dont le plus récent concerne deux riches bourgeois ... tu seras gerbé à la passe.—Balzac.Gerberie,f.(thieves’),court of justice.Gerbier,m.(thieves’),judge, or “beak;”barrister, or “mouthpiece.”Mec des gerbiers,executioner.Gerbierres,f. pl.(thieves’),skeleton keys, or “screws.”Gerce,f.(thieves’),wife, or “mollisher;” mattress; (popular)woman with unnatural passions.Un qui s’est fait poisser la ——,a Sodomist.Germanie,f., aller en ——. SeeAller.Germiny,m.(familiar and popular),Sodomist. From the name of a nobleman who a few years ago was tried for an unnatural offence.Germinyser(familiar and popular),se faire ——,to be a Sodomist.Gernafle,f.(thieves’),farm.Gernaflier,m.(thieves’),farmer, or “joskin.”Gérontocracie,f.(familiar),narrow-mindedness.Gésier,m.(popular),throat.Se laver le ——,to drink.Gesseur,m.(popular),fussy man;eccentric man, a “rum un’.”Gesseuse,f.(popular),prude;female who gives herself airs.Gestes. SeeAccentuer.Get,geti,m.(thieves’),reed,cane.G—g,m.(popular),avoir du ——,to have good sense, “to know what’s o’clock,” “to be up to a trick or two.”Gi, orgy(thieves’),yes, or “usher.”Gibasses,f. pl.(popular),large skinny breasts.Gibelotte de gouttière,f.(popular),cat stew.Giberne,f.(popular),the behind. SeeVasistas.Gibier,m.(popular),à commissaire,woman of disorderly or drunken habits;—— de Cayenne,incorrigible thief, or “gallows’ bird.”Giboyer,m.(literary),journalist of the worst sort. From a play by Emile Augier.Gibus,m.(familiar),hat, or “stove pipe.” SeeTubard.Gigolette,f.(popular),girl of the lower orders who leads a more than fast life, and is an assiduous frequenter of low dancing-halls.Si tu veux être ma gigolette,Moi, je serai ton gigolo.Parisian Song.Gigolo,m.(popular),fast young man of the lower orders,a kind of“’Arry,”the associate of agigolette(which see).Gigot,m.(popular),large thick hand, “mutton fist.”Gigue et jon!bacchanalian exclamation of sailors.Largue l’écoute! Bitte et bosse!Largue l’écoute! Gigue et jon!Largue l’écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.Chez la mère Barbe-en-jonc.Richepin,La Mer.Gilboque,m.(thieves’ and cads’),billiards. Termed “spoof” in the English slang.Gilet,m.(popular),s’emplir le ——,to eat or drink.Avoir le —— doublé de flanelleis said of one who has comforted himself with a plate of thick, hot soup. The English use the term “flannel” or “hot flannel” for a comforting drink of a hot mixture of gin and beer with nutmeg, sugar,&c.According to theSlang Dictionarythere is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart of “flannel” in a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman?”Un —— à la mode,opulent breasts. (Familiar)Un —— en cœur,a dandy, or “masher.”Amantha, que Corbois avait complètement perdue de vue, était aux Bouffes et faisait la joie des gilets en cœur.—E.Monteil.Gille,m.(popular),faire ——,to run away, “to slope,” “bolt.” SeePatatrot. The expression is old.Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.Et contraignit de faire gille,Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.Scarron.Faire —— déloge(obsolete),to decamp.Gilmont,m.(thieves’),waistcoat, or “benjy.”Gilquin,m.(popular),coup de ——,blow with the fist, a “bang,” or “biff” (Americanism).Gimbler(sailors’),to moan.Le vent gimble,the wind moans, roars.Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrès!Nous en avons troussé bien d’autres au plus près.Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle à goule écarquille!Richepin,La Mer.Gin(thieves’),à son ——,see! behold!This expression has been reproduced in the spelling of my informant, an associate of thieves.Gingin,m.(popular),good sense;behind. SeeVasistas.Ginginer(popular),to make one’s dress bulge out;to ogle;to flirt.Ginglard,ginglet, orginguet,m.(popular),thin sour wine.Girafe,f.(popular),grande ——,petite ——,spiral flights of steps,in theSeineswimming baths, with a lower and upper landing serving as diving platforms.Girofle,adj.(thieves’),pretty, “dimber.”Largue ——,pretty girl, or “dimbermort.”Giroflerie,f.(thieves’),amiability.Girofleter(popular),to smack one’s face, “to warm the wax of one’s ear.” Synonymous of “donner du sucre de giroflée.”Girole(thieves’), expression of assent:so be it, “usher.”Il y a deux menées de ronds en ma henne et deux ornies en mon gueulard, que j’ai égraillées sur le trimar; bions les faire riffoder, veux-tu?—Girole, et béni soit le grand havre qui m’a fait rencontrer si chenâtre occasion.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.(There are two dozen halfpence in my purse and two hens in my wallet, which I have caught on the road; we will cook them, if you like?—Certainly, and blessed be the Almighty who made me fall in with such a piece of good luck.)Gironde,adj.andf.(thieves’),gentle;pretty, “dimber;”pretty woman or girl, “dimbermort.” Alsoa girl of bad character,a“bunter.”Girondin,m.(thieves’),simple-minded fellow, “flat,” or “jay.”Le —— a donné, “the jay has been flapped.”Girondine,f.(thieves’),handsome young girl, or “dimbermort.”Gîte,m.(popular),dans le ——,something of the best. An allusion togîte à la noix,savoury morsel of beef.Gitre(thieves’),I have.Gitre mouchaillé le babillard.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.(I have looked at the book.)Giverner(popular),to prowl about at night.Giverneur,m.(popular),one who prowls at night; (thieves’)—— de refroidis,one who drives a hearse.Glace,f.andm.(familiar and popular),passer devant la ——,to enjoy gratis the favours of a prostitute at a brothel;to pay for the reckoning at a café. An allusion to the large looking-glass behind the counter. (Popular)Un ——,glass of wine.Sucer un ——,to drink a glass of wine.Glacé,adj.(popular and thieves’), pendu,street lamps used till they were superseded by the present gas lamps. A few are still to be seen in some lanes of old Paris.Les pendus glacés, ce sont ces gros réverbères à quatre faces de vitre verte carrées comme des glaces ... ce sont ces réverbères abolis qui pendent au bout d’une corde accrochée à un bras de potence.—Richepin,Le Pavé.Glacière pendue,f.(thieves’). SeeGlacé.Glacis,m.(popular),se passer un ——,to drink, “to take something damp,” or “to moisten one’s chaffer.” SeeRincer.Gladiateur,m.(military),shoe. An ironical allusion to the fleetness of the celebrated racerGladiateur.Glaire,f.(popular),pousser sa ——,to talk, “to jaw.”As-tu fini de pousser ta ——,don’t talk so much, which may be rendered by the Americanism, “don’t shoot off your mouth.”Glaive,m.(freemasons’),carving-knife; (thieves’)guillotine.Passer sa bille au ——,to be guillotined. SeeFauché.Glaiver(thieves’),to guillotine.Glao(Breton cant),rain..Glaou(Breton cant),firebrands.Glas,m.(popular),dull man with a dismal sort of conversation, “croaker.”Glaviot,m.(popular),expectoration, or “gob.”Glavioter(popular),to expectorate.Glavioteur,m.(popular),man who expectorates.Glier,glinet,m.(thieves’),devil, “ruffin.” Fromsanglier,a wild boar.Le —— t’entrolle en son pasclin,the devil take you to his abode!Glissant,m.(thieves’),soap.Glisser(popular),to die, “to stick one’s spoon in the wall,” “to kick the bucket,” or “to snuff it.” SeePipe.Globe,m.(popular),head, or “nut,” seeTronche;stomach.S’être fait arrondir le ——,to have become pregnant, or “lumpy.”Glouglouter(popular),to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” SeeRincer.Glousser(popular),to talk, “to jaw.”Gluant,m.(cads’ and thieves’),penis;baby, “kinchin.”Paraît que j’suis dab’l ça m’esbloque.Un p’tit salé, à moi l’salaud!Ma rouchi’ doit batt’ la berloque.Un gluant, ça n’f’rait pas mon blot.Richepin.Gluau,m.(popular),expectoration. (Thieves’)Poser un ——,to arrest, “to smug.” SeePiper.Gluau, properlya twig smeared over with bird-lime.Glutouse,f.(thieves’),face, or “mug.”Gnac,m.(popular),quarrel.Gnaffé,adj.(popular),clumsily done.Gnafle,f.(popular),bad throw.Après —— raffle,constant ill-luck.Gniaff,m.(familiar),bad workman;writer or journalist of the worst description; (shoemakers’)working shoemaker.Gniaffer(popular),to work clumsily.Gniasse(cads’ and thieves’),mon ——,I, myself, “No. 1.”Ton ——,thou, thee.Son ——,he, him;I, myself.Un ——,a fellow, a “cove.”Un bon ——,a good fellow, a “brick.”Gniff,adj.(popular),ce vin est ——,that wine is clear.Gniol,gniole,gnolle,adj.(popular),silly;dull-witted.Es-tu assez ——!how silly, orwhat a“flat”you are!On voulait nous mettre à la manque pour lui (nous le faire livrer), nous ne sommes pas des gnioles!—Balzac.Gnognotte,f.(familiar and popular). The expression has passed into the language;thing of little worth, “no great scratch.”Ce farceur de Mes-Bottes, vers la fin de l’été, avait eu le truc d’épouser pour de vrai une dame, très décatie déjà, mais qui possédait de beaux restes; oh! une dame de la rue des Martyrs, pas de la gnognotte de barrière.—Zola,L’Assommoir.Gnol-Chy(popular), abbreviation ofBatignolles-Clichy.Gnole,f.(popular),slap, “clout,” “wipe;” or, as the Americans have it, “biff.” Abbreviation oftorgnole.Gnon,m.(popular),blow, “clout,” “bang,” or “wipe;”bruise, or “mouse.”Gnouf-gnouf,m.(theatrical),monthly dinner of the actors of thePalais RoyalTheatre. When ceremonious, the members are called, “Gnouf-gnoufs d’Allemagne;” when bacchanalian, “Gnouf-gnoufs de Pologne.”Go,parler en ——,is to use that syllable to disguise words.Gobage,m.(popular),love.Gobante,f.(popular),attractive woman. Fromgober,to like.Gobbe,gobelot,m.(thieves’),chalice.Gobelet,m.(thieves’),être sous le ——,to be in prison, or “put away.”Gobelin,m.(thieves’),thimble.Gobelot. SeeGobbe.Gobe-mouches,m.(thieves’),spy, “nark,” or “nose.”Gobe-prune,m.(thieves’),tailor. Termed alsopique-poux, and in the English slang a “cabbage contractor,” “steel-bar driver,” “button catcher.”Gober(familiar and popular),to like;to love;to please.Je te gobe,you please me;I like you.Gober la chèvre, or—— son bœuf,to get angry, “to get one’s monkey up,” “to lose one’s shirt,” “to get into a scot.” Termed “to be in a swot” at Shrewsbury School.Se ——,to have a high opinion of oneself;to love oneself too much.Non, non, pas de cabotins. Le vieux Bosc était toujours gris; Prullières se gobait trop.—Zola,Nana.La ——,to be the victim;to have to pay for others;to be ruined;to believe a false assertion. Synonymous, in the latter sense, of the old expression, “gober le morceau.”Mais je ne suis pas homme à gober le morceau.—Molière,Ecole des Femmes.Cent pas plus loin, le camelot a recommencé son truc, après avoir ri, avec son copain, des pantes qui la gobent!—Richepin. (A hundred steps further the sharper again tries his dodge, after laughing with his chum at the flats who take it in.)Si nous échouons, c’est moi qui la gobe,if we fail, I shall be made responsible.Gobeson,m.(thieves’),drinking-glass, or “flicker;”cup;chalice.Gobet,m.(popular),piece of beef, “a bit o’ bull.” Had formerly the signification ofdainty bit.Laisse-moi faire, nous en mangerons de bons gobets ensemble.—Hauteroche,Crispin Médecin.Gobet,disorderly workman.Mauvais ——,scamp, or “bad egg.”Gobette,f.(thieves’),drinking-glass, or “flicker.”Payer la ——,to stand treat.Gobeur,m.(familiar),credulous man, “flat.”Gobichonnade,f.(familiar and popular),gormandizing.Gobichonner(familiar and popular),se ——,to regale oneself.Il se sentit capable des plus grandes lâchetés pour continuer à gobichonner.—Balzac.Gobichonneur,m.,gobichonneuse, f. (familiar and popular),gormandizer, “grand paunch.”Gobilleur,m.(thieves’),juge d’instruction, a magistrate who instructs cases, and privately examines prisoners before trial.Gobseck,m.(familiar),miser, “skinflint,” or “hunks.” One of the characters ofBalzac’sComédie Humaine.Godaille,f.(popular),amusement;indulgence in eating and drinking.On doit travailler, ça ne fait pas un doute: seulement quand on se trouve avec des amis, la politesse passe avant tout. Un désir de godaille les avait peu à peu chatouillés et engourdis tous les quatre.—Zola,L’Assommoir.Godan,m.(popular),falsehood.Connaître le ——,to be wide-awake,not easily duped, “to know what’s o’clock.”Monter un —— à quelqu’un,to seek to deceive one, or“best”one.Godancer(popular),to allow oneself to be duped, “to be done brown.”Godard,m.(popular),a husband who has just become a father.Goddam, orgoddem,m.(popular),Englishman.(Entraînant l’Anglais.) Maintenant, allons jouer des bibelots ... voilà un goddam qui va y aller d’autant.—P.Mahalin.Godet,m.(popular),drinking glass. A common expression among the lower orders, and a very old one.Godiche,adj.(familiar and popular),simple-minded,foolish.Que tu es donc godiche, Toinon, de venir tous les matins comme ça.—Gavarni.Godiller(popular),to be merry;to be carnally excited.Godilleur,m.(popular),man who is fond of the fair sex, a “molrower,” or “beard-splitter.”Godillot,m.(popular),military shoe. From the name of the maker; (military)recruit, or “Johnny raw.”Godiveau rance,m.(popular),stingy man.Tu peux penser si je le traite de godiveau rance chaque fois qu’il me refuse un petit cadeau.—E.Monteil.Goffeur,m.(thieves’),locksmith. From the Celticgoff,a smith.Gogaille,f.(popular),banquet.Gogo,m.(familiar),simple-minded man who invests his capital in swindling concerns, “gull;”man easily fleeced.Quand les allumeurs de l’Hôtel des Ventes eurent jugé le gogo en complet entraînement, il y eut un arrêt momentané parmi les enchères intéressées.—A.Sirven.(Popular)Gogo,greenhorn, “flat.” The term, with this signification, is hardly slang.Villonuses it in hisBallade de Villon et de la Grosse Margot(15th century).Riant, m’assiet le poing sur mon sommet, Gogo me dit, et me fiert le jambot.Gogotte,adj.(popular),spiritless; weak; bad. Fromgogo.Avoir la vue ——,to have a weak sight. A corruption of cocotte,disease of the eyes.Goguenau,gogueno,goguenot,m.(military),tin can holding one litre, used by soldiers to make coffee or soup; alsohowitzer; (military and popular)privy.Passer la jambe à Thomas ——,to empty the privy tub.Hirondelle de ——,low street-walker, or “draggle-tail.” SeeGadoue.Goguette,f.(popular),vocal society;wine-shop.Etre en ——,to be merrily inclined; to be enjoying oneself, the bottle being the chief factor in the source of enjoyment.Goguetter(popular),to make merry. From the old wordgoguette,amusement.Goguettier,m.(popular),member of a vocal society.Goinfre,m.(thieves’),precentor. An allusion to his opening his mouth like that of a glutton.Goiper(thieves’),to prowl at night for evil purposes, “quærens quem devoret.”Goipeur,m.(thieves’),night thief.Goipeuse,f.(thieves’),prostitute who prowls about the country. SeeGadoue.Goîtreux,m.(familiar),silly fellow;man devoid of all intellectual power. Synonymous ofcrétin.Goje(Breton cant),well;yes.Golgother(familiar),to give oneself the airs of a martyr. The allusion is obvious.Gomberger(thieves’),to reckon.Gombeux,adj.(popular),nasty.Gomme,f.(familiar),fashion;elegance, “swelldom.”La haute——,the“pink”of fashion.Etre de la ——,to be a dandy, a “masher.” SeeGommeux. The term formerly signified excellence, and was used specially in reference to wine.Mais non pas d’un pareil trésor,Que cette souveraine gomme.Parnasse des Muses.Gommeuse,f.(familiar),showily dressed girl or woman, a “dasher.”Gommeux,adj.andm.(familiar),pretty;dandy.C’était elle qui, pour la première fois, recevant un de ses amants astiqué des pieds à la tête, empesé, ciré, frotté, tiré, semblant, en deux mots, trempé dans de la gomme arabique en dissolution, avait dit de lui: un gommeux! Le petit-crevé avait un successeur.—E.Monteil,Cornebois.The different appellations corresponding to various periods are as follows:—Under LouisXIV., “mouchar,muguet,petit-maître,talon-rouge.” After the revolution of 1793, “muscadin.” Under the government of the Directoire from ’95 to ’99, “incroyable,merveilleux.” Then from the Restoration come in succession, “mirliflor,élégant,dandy,lion,fashionable, andgandin.” Under the Third Empire, “cocodès,crevé,petit-crevé,col-cassé.” From 1870 to the present day, “gommeux,luisant,poisseux,boudiné,pschutteux,exhumé,gratiné,faucheur, and finallybécarre.” The English have the terms “swell, gorger, masher,” and the old expression “flasher,” mentioned in the following quotation from theEnglish Supplementary Glossary:—They are reckoned the flashers of the place, yet everybody laughs at them for their airs, affectations, and tonish graces and impertinences.—Madame d’Arblay,Diary.TheSpectatortermed a dandy a “Jack-pudding,” and Goldsmith calls him a “macaroni,” “The Italians,” he says, “are extremely fond of a dish they call macaroni, ... and as they consider this as thesummum bonumof all good eating, so they figuratively call everything they think elegant and uncommon macaroni. Our young travellers, who generally catch the follies of the countries they visit, judged that the title ofmacaroniwas very applicable to aclever fellow; and accordingly, to distinguish themselves as such, they instituted a club under this denomination, the members of which were supposed to be the standards oftaste. The infection atSt.James’s was soon caught in the City, and we have nowmacaroniesof every denomination, from the Colonel of the Train’d-Bands down to the printer’s devil or errand-boy. They indeed make a most ridiculous figure, with hats of an inch in the brim, that do not cover, but lie upon the head; with about two pounds of fictitious hair, formed into what is called aclub, hanging down their shoulders, as white as a baker’s sack; the end of the skirt of their coat reaching not down to the first button of their breeches.... Such a figure, essenced and perfumed, with a bunch of lace sticking out underitschin, puzzles the common passenger to determine thething’ssex; and many have said,by your leave, madam, without intending to give offence.”The Americans give the name of “dude” to one who apes the manners of swells. It may be this word originated from a comparison between the tight and light-coloured trousers sported by swells, and the stem of a pipe termed “dudeen” by the Irish.Compare the French expression “boudiné,” literallysausage-like, for a swell in tight clothing.Gomorrhe,m.(familiar),un émigré de ——,Sodomite.Gonce,gonse,gonze,m.(thieves’),man, or “cove.”Goncesse,gonzesse,f.(thieves’),woman, “hay-bag, cooler, or shakester.”Goncier, orgonce,m.(thieves’), man, or “cove.”Gondolé,adj.(thieves’ and popular),avoir l’air ——,to look ill.Un homme ——,high-shouldered man.Gonfle-bougres,m.(thieves’),beans, the staple food of prisoners.Gonfler.SeeBallon. (Popular)Se ——,to be elated.Mon vieux, c’que tu peux t’gonfler d’gagner des coupes Renaissance!—Le Cri du Peuple, 17 Août, 1886.Se —— le jabot,to look conceited.Tu es un bon artiste, c’est vrai, mais, vrai aussi, tu te gonfles trop le jabot.—E.Monteil.Gonsalé,m.(thieves’),man, or “cove.”Si le —— fait de l’harmonarés,il faut le balancarguer dans la vassarés,if the man is not quiet, we’ll throw him into the water.Gonsarès,m.(thieves’),man. A form ofgonse.Gonse,m.(thieves’ and popular),man, or “cove.”
Mais quoi! ces ventrus sur leurs piedsN’peuvent plus supporter leur gaviot.Richepin.
Mais quoi! ces ventrus sur leurs piedsN’peuvent plus supporter leur gaviot.Richepin.
Mais quoi! ces ventrus sur leurs piedsN’peuvent plus supporter leur gaviot.Richepin.
Mais quoi! ces ventrus sur leurs pieds
N’peuvent plus supporter leur gaviot.
Richepin.
Gavot. SeeGavé.
Gavroche,m.(familiar),Paris street boy.Faire le ——,to talk or act as an impudent boy.
Gay,adj.(thieves’),ugly;queer, or “rum.”
Gaye. SeeGaliote.
Gayet,m.(thieves’),horse, or “prad.” Termed also “gail.”La cognade à ——,mounted police.Des gayets,rogues who prowl about the suburbs just outside the gates of Paris.
C’étaient des rôdeurs de barrière ... c’étaient des gayets.—Mémoires de Monsieur Claude.
Gaz,m.(popular),allumer son ——,to look attentively, “to stag.”Eteindre son ——,to sleep, “to doss;”to die, “to snuff it.” SeePipe.Prendre un coup de ——,to have a dram of spirits.
Gazette,f.(familiar),lire la ——,to eat nothing.
Gazier,m.(popular),humbug.
Gazon,m.(popular),wig, or “periwinkle;”hair, or “thatch.”N’avoir plus de —— sur la plate-bande, orsur le pré,to be bald. SeeAvoir.Se ratisser le ——,to comb one’s hair.
Gazonner(popular),se faire —— la plate-bande,to provide oneself with a wig.
Gazouiller(popular),to speak;to sing;to stink.
Oh! la la! ça gazouille, dit Clémence en se bouchant le nez.—Zola.
Géant,m.(thieves’),montagne de ——,gallows, “scrag,” “nobbing cheat,” or the obsolete expression “government sign-post.”
Geindre,m.(popular),journeyman baker. Properlyto groan heavily.
Gendarme,m.(popular),red herring;mixture of white wine, gum, and water;one-sou cigar;pressing iron.
Général,m.(popular),le —— macadam,the street, or “drag.”
Gêneur,m.(familiar),bore.
Génisse,f.,woman of bad character. SeeGadoue.
Géniteur,m.(popular),father.
Genou,m.(familiar),bald pate.
Genre,m.(familiar),grand ——,pink of fashion.C’est tout à fait grand ——,it is quite “the” thing.Se donner du ——,to assume fashionable ways or manners in speech or dress;to look affected, to have“highfalutin airs.”
Genreux,adj.andm.(familiar),elegant;fashionable, “dasher,” “tsing tsing;”one who gives himself airs.
Gens,m. pl.(popular),être de la société des —— de lettres,to belong to a tribe of swindlers who extort money by threatening letters, “socketers.”
Gentilhomme sous-marin,m.(popular),prostitute’s bully, “ponce.” For synonyms seePoisson.
Georget,m.(popular),waistcoat, “benjy.”
Les rupines et marquises leur fichent, les unes un georget, les autres une lime ou haut-de-tire, qu’ils entrolent au barbaudier de castu, ou à d’autres qui les veulent abloquir.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.(The ladies and wives give them, some a waistcoat, others a shirt, or a pair of breeches, which they take to the hospital overseer, or to others who are willing to buy them.)
Gerbable,m.(thieves’),prisoner who is sure to be convicted,who is“booked.”
Gerbe,m.(thieves’), trial, or “patter;”sentence.Planque de ——,assize court.Le carré des petites gerbes,the police court.
Gerbé,adj.(thieves’),sentenced, or “booked.”
On dit qu’il vient du bagne où il était gerbé à 24 longes (condamné à 24 ans).—Vidocq.
Etre —— à viocque,to be sentenced to penal servitude for life, or “settled.”
Gerbement,m.(thieves’),trial; called also “sapement.”
La conversation roulait sur les camarades qui étaient au pré, sur ceux qui étaient en gerbement (jugement).—Vidocq.
Gerber(thieves’),to sentence.
Te voilà pris par la Cigogne, avec cinq vols qualifiés, trois assassinats, dont le plus récent concerne deux riches bourgeois ... tu seras gerbé à la passe.—Balzac.
Gerberie,f.(thieves’),court of justice.
Gerbier,m.(thieves’),judge, or “beak;”barrister, or “mouthpiece.”Mec des gerbiers,executioner.
Gerbierres,f. pl.(thieves’),skeleton keys, or “screws.”
Gerce,f.(thieves’),wife, or “mollisher;” mattress; (popular)woman with unnatural passions.Un qui s’est fait poisser la ——,a Sodomist.
Germanie,f., aller en ——. SeeAller.
Germiny,m.(familiar and popular),Sodomist. From the name of a nobleman who a few years ago was tried for an unnatural offence.
Germinyser(familiar and popular),se faire ——,to be a Sodomist.
Gernafle,f.(thieves’),farm.
Gernaflier,m.(thieves’),farmer, or “joskin.”
Gérontocracie,f.(familiar),narrow-mindedness.
Gésier,m.(popular),throat.Se laver le ——,to drink.
Gesseur,m.(popular),fussy man;eccentric man, a “rum un’.”
Gesseuse,f.(popular),prude;female who gives herself airs.
Gestes. SeeAccentuer.
Get,geti,m.(thieves’),reed,cane.
G—g,m.(popular),avoir du ——,to have good sense, “to know what’s o’clock,” “to be up to a trick or two.”
Gi, orgy(thieves’),yes, or “usher.”
Gibasses,f. pl.(popular),large skinny breasts.
Gibelotte de gouttière,f.(popular),cat stew.
Giberne,f.(popular),the behind. SeeVasistas.
Gibier,m.(popular),à commissaire,woman of disorderly or drunken habits;—— de Cayenne,incorrigible thief, or “gallows’ bird.”
Giboyer,m.(literary),journalist of the worst sort. From a play by Emile Augier.
Gibus,m.(familiar),hat, or “stove pipe.” SeeTubard.
Gigolette,f.(popular),girl of the lower orders who leads a more than fast life, and is an assiduous frequenter of low dancing-halls.
Si tu veux être ma gigolette,Moi, je serai ton gigolo.Parisian Song.
Si tu veux être ma gigolette,Moi, je serai ton gigolo.Parisian Song.
Si tu veux être ma gigolette,Moi, je serai ton gigolo.Parisian Song.
Si tu veux être ma gigolette,
Moi, je serai ton gigolo.
Parisian Song.
Gigolo,m.(popular),fast young man of the lower orders,a kind of“’Arry,”the associate of agigolette(which see).
Gigot,m.(popular),large thick hand, “mutton fist.”
Gigue et jon!bacchanalian exclamation of sailors.
Largue l’écoute! Bitte et bosse!Largue l’écoute! Gigue et jon!Largue l’écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.Chez la mère Barbe-en-jonc.Richepin,La Mer.
Largue l’écoute! Bitte et bosse!Largue l’écoute! Gigue et jon!Largue l’écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.Chez la mère Barbe-en-jonc.Richepin,La Mer.
Largue l’écoute! Bitte et bosse!Largue l’écoute! Gigue et jon!Largue l’écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.Chez la mère Barbe-en-jonc.Richepin,La Mer.
Largue l’écoute! Bitte et bosse!
Largue l’écoute! Gigue et jon!
Largue l’écoute! on s’y fout des bosses.
Chez la mère Barbe-en-jonc.
Richepin,La Mer.
Gilboque,m.(thieves’ and cads’),billiards. Termed “spoof” in the English slang.
Gilet,m.(popular),s’emplir le ——,to eat or drink.Avoir le —— doublé de flanelleis said of one who has comforted himself with a plate of thick, hot soup. The English use the term “flannel” or “hot flannel” for a comforting drink of a hot mixture of gin and beer with nutmeg, sugar,&c.According to theSlang Dictionarythere is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart of “flannel” in a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman?”Un —— à la mode,opulent breasts. (Familiar)Un —— en cœur,a dandy, or “masher.”
Amantha, que Corbois avait complètement perdue de vue, était aux Bouffes et faisait la joie des gilets en cœur.—E.Monteil.
Gille,m.(popular),faire ——,to run away, “to slope,” “bolt.” SeePatatrot. The expression is old.
Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.Et contraignit de faire gille,Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.Scarron.
Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.Et contraignit de faire gille,Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.Scarron.
Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.Et contraignit de faire gille,Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.Scarron.
Jupin leur fit prendre le saut.
Et contraignit de faire gille,
Le grand Typhon jusqu’en Sicile.
Scarron.
Faire —— déloge(obsolete),to decamp.
Gilmont,m.(thieves’),waistcoat, or “benjy.”
Gilquin,m.(popular),coup de ——,blow with the fist, a “bang,” or “biff” (Americanism).
Gimbler(sailors’),to moan.Le vent gimble,the wind moans, roars.
Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrès!Nous en avons troussé bien d’autres au plus près.Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle à goule écarquille!Richepin,La Mer.
Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrès!Nous en avons troussé bien d’autres au plus près.Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle à goule écarquille!Richepin,La Mer.
Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrès!Nous en avons troussé bien d’autres au plus près.Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle à goule écarquille!Richepin,La Mer.
Bon! qu’il gimble tant qu’il voudra dans les agrès!
Nous en avons troussé bien d’autres au plus près.
Ce n’est pas encore lui qui verra notre quille.
Souffle, souffle, mon vieux! souffle à goule écarquille!
Richepin,La Mer.
Gin(thieves’),à son ——,see! behold!This expression has been reproduced in the spelling of my informant, an associate of thieves.
Gingin,m.(popular),good sense;behind. SeeVasistas.
Ginginer(popular),to make one’s dress bulge out;to ogle;to flirt.
Ginglard,ginglet, orginguet,m.(popular),thin sour wine.
Girafe,f.(popular),grande ——,petite ——,spiral flights of steps,in theSeineswimming baths, with a lower and upper landing serving as diving platforms.
Girofle,adj.(thieves’),pretty, “dimber.”Largue ——,pretty girl, or “dimbermort.”
Giroflerie,f.(thieves’),amiability.
Girofleter(popular),to smack one’s face, “to warm the wax of one’s ear.” Synonymous of “donner du sucre de giroflée.”
Girole(thieves’), expression of assent:so be it, “usher.”
Il y a deux menées de ronds en ma henne et deux ornies en mon gueulard, que j’ai égraillées sur le trimar; bions les faire riffoder, veux-tu?—Girole, et béni soit le grand havre qui m’a fait rencontrer si chenâtre occasion.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.(There are two dozen halfpence in my purse and two hens in my wallet, which I have caught on the road; we will cook them, if you like?—Certainly, and blessed be the Almighty who made me fall in with such a piece of good luck.)
Gironde,adj.andf.(thieves’),gentle;pretty, “dimber;”pretty woman or girl, “dimbermort.” Alsoa girl of bad character,a“bunter.”
Girondin,m.(thieves’),simple-minded fellow, “flat,” or “jay.”Le —— a donné, “the jay has been flapped.”
Girondine,f.(thieves’),handsome young girl, or “dimbermort.”
Gîte,m.(popular),dans le ——,something of the best. An allusion togîte à la noix,savoury morsel of beef.
Gitre(thieves’),I have.
Gitre mouchaillé le babillard.—Le Jargon de l’Argot.(I have looked at the book.)
Giverner(popular),to prowl about at night.
Giverneur,m.(popular),one who prowls at night; (thieves’)—— de refroidis,one who drives a hearse.
Glace,f.andm.(familiar and popular),passer devant la ——,to enjoy gratis the favours of a prostitute at a brothel;to pay for the reckoning at a café. An allusion to the large looking-glass behind the counter. (Popular)Un ——,glass of wine.Sucer un ——,to drink a glass of wine.
Glacé,adj.(popular and thieves’), pendu,street lamps used till they were superseded by the present gas lamps. A few are still to be seen in some lanes of old Paris.
Les pendus glacés, ce sont ces gros réverbères à quatre faces de vitre verte carrées comme des glaces ... ce sont ces réverbères abolis qui pendent au bout d’une corde accrochée à un bras de potence.—Richepin,Le Pavé.
Glacière pendue,f.(thieves’). SeeGlacé.
Glacis,m.(popular),se passer un ——,to drink, “to take something damp,” or “to moisten one’s chaffer.” SeeRincer.
Gladiateur,m.(military),shoe. An ironical allusion to the fleetness of the celebrated racerGladiateur.
Glaire,f.(popular),pousser sa ——,to talk, “to jaw.”As-tu fini de pousser ta ——,don’t talk so much, which may be rendered by the Americanism, “don’t shoot off your mouth.”
Glaive,m.(freemasons’),carving-knife; (thieves’)guillotine.Passer sa bille au ——,to be guillotined. SeeFauché.
Glaiver(thieves’),to guillotine.
Glao(Breton cant),rain..
Glaou(Breton cant),firebrands.
Glas,m.(popular),dull man with a dismal sort of conversation, “croaker.”
Glaviot,m.(popular),expectoration, or “gob.”
Glavioter(popular),to expectorate.
Glavioteur,m.(popular),man who expectorates.
Glier,glinet,m.(thieves’),devil, “ruffin.” Fromsanglier,a wild boar.Le —— t’entrolle en son pasclin,the devil take you to his abode!
Glissant,m.(thieves’),soap.
Glisser(popular),to die, “to stick one’s spoon in the wall,” “to kick the bucket,” or “to snuff it.” SeePipe.
Globe,m.(popular),head, or “nut,” seeTronche;stomach.S’être fait arrondir le ——,to have become pregnant, or “lumpy.”
Glouglouter(popular),to drink, “to wet one’s whistle.” SeeRincer.
Glousser(popular),to talk, “to jaw.”
Gluant,m.(cads’ and thieves’),penis;baby, “kinchin.”
Paraît que j’suis dab’l ça m’esbloque.Un p’tit salé, à moi l’salaud!Ma rouchi’ doit batt’ la berloque.Un gluant, ça n’f’rait pas mon blot.Richepin.
Paraît que j’suis dab’l ça m’esbloque.Un p’tit salé, à moi l’salaud!Ma rouchi’ doit batt’ la berloque.Un gluant, ça n’f’rait pas mon blot.Richepin.
Paraît que j’suis dab’l ça m’esbloque.Un p’tit salé, à moi l’salaud!Ma rouchi’ doit batt’ la berloque.Un gluant, ça n’f’rait pas mon blot.Richepin.
Paraît que j’suis dab’l ça m’esbloque.
Un p’tit salé, à moi l’salaud!
Ma rouchi’ doit batt’ la berloque.
Un gluant, ça n’f’rait pas mon blot.
Richepin.
Gluau,m.(popular),expectoration. (Thieves’)Poser un ——,to arrest, “to smug.” SeePiper.Gluau, properlya twig smeared over with bird-lime.
Glutouse,f.(thieves’),face, or “mug.”
Gnac,m.(popular),quarrel.
Gnaffé,adj.(popular),clumsily done.
Gnafle,f.(popular),bad throw.Après —— raffle,constant ill-luck.
Gniaff,m.(familiar),bad workman;writer or journalist of the worst description; (shoemakers’)working shoemaker.
Gniaffer(popular),to work clumsily.
Gniasse(cads’ and thieves’),mon ——,I, myself, “No. 1.”Ton ——,thou, thee.Son ——,he, him;I, myself.Un ——,a fellow, a “cove.”Un bon ——,a good fellow, a “brick.”
Gniff,adj.(popular),ce vin est ——,that wine is clear.
Gniol,gniole,gnolle,adj.(popular),silly;dull-witted.Es-tu assez ——!how silly, orwhat a“flat”you are!
On voulait nous mettre à la manque pour lui (nous le faire livrer), nous ne sommes pas des gnioles!—Balzac.
Gnognotte,f.(familiar and popular). The expression has passed into the language;thing of little worth, “no great scratch.”
Ce farceur de Mes-Bottes, vers la fin de l’été, avait eu le truc d’épouser pour de vrai une dame, très décatie déjà, mais qui possédait de beaux restes; oh! une dame de la rue des Martyrs, pas de la gnognotte de barrière.—Zola,L’Assommoir.
Gnol-Chy(popular), abbreviation ofBatignolles-Clichy.
Gnole,f.(popular),slap, “clout,” “wipe;” or, as the Americans have it, “biff.” Abbreviation oftorgnole.
Gnon,m.(popular),blow, “clout,” “bang,” or “wipe;”bruise, or “mouse.”
Gnouf-gnouf,m.(theatrical),monthly dinner of the actors of thePalais RoyalTheatre. When ceremonious, the members are called, “Gnouf-gnoufs d’Allemagne;” when bacchanalian, “Gnouf-gnoufs de Pologne.”
Go,parler en ——,is to use that syllable to disguise words.
Gobage,m.(popular),love.
Gobante,f.(popular),attractive woman. Fromgober,to like.
Gobbe,gobelot,m.(thieves’),chalice.
Gobelet,m.(thieves’),être sous le ——,to be in prison, or “put away.”
Gobelin,m.(thieves’),thimble.
Gobelot. SeeGobbe.
Gobe-mouches,m.(thieves’),spy, “nark,” or “nose.”
Gobe-prune,m.(thieves’),tailor. Termed alsopique-poux, and in the English slang a “cabbage contractor,” “steel-bar driver,” “button catcher.”
Gober(familiar and popular),to like;to love;to please.Je te gobe,you please me;I like you.Gober la chèvre, or—— son bœuf,to get angry, “to get one’s monkey up,” “to lose one’s shirt,” “to get into a scot.” Termed “to be in a swot” at Shrewsbury School.Se ——,to have a high opinion of oneself;to love oneself too much.
Non, non, pas de cabotins. Le vieux Bosc était toujours gris; Prullières se gobait trop.—Zola,Nana.
La ——,to be the victim;to have to pay for others;to be ruined;to believe a false assertion. Synonymous, in the latter sense, of the old expression, “gober le morceau.”
Mais je ne suis pas homme à gober le morceau.—Molière,Ecole des Femmes.
Cent pas plus loin, le camelot a recommencé son truc, après avoir ri, avec son copain, des pantes qui la gobent!—Richepin. (A hundred steps further the sharper again tries his dodge, after laughing with his chum at the flats who take it in.)
Si nous échouons, c’est moi qui la gobe,if we fail, I shall be made responsible.
Gobeson,m.(thieves’),drinking-glass, or “flicker;”cup;chalice.
Gobet,m.(popular),piece of beef, “a bit o’ bull.” Had formerly the signification ofdainty bit.
Laisse-moi faire, nous en mangerons de bons gobets ensemble.—Hauteroche,Crispin Médecin.
Gobet,disorderly workman.Mauvais ——,scamp, or “bad egg.”
Gobette,f.(thieves’),drinking-glass, or “flicker.”Payer la ——,to stand treat.
Gobeur,m.(familiar),credulous man, “flat.”
Gobichonnade,f.(familiar and popular),gormandizing.
Gobichonner(familiar and popular),se ——,to regale oneself.
Il se sentit capable des plus grandes lâchetés pour continuer à gobichonner.—Balzac.
Gobichonneur,m.,gobichonneuse, f. (familiar and popular),gormandizer, “grand paunch.”
Gobilleur,m.(thieves’),juge d’instruction, a magistrate who instructs cases, and privately examines prisoners before trial.
Gobseck,m.(familiar),miser, “skinflint,” or “hunks.” One of the characters ofBalzac’sComédie Humaine.
Godaille,f.(popular),amusement;indulgence in eating and drinking.
On doit travailler, ça ne fait pas un doute: seulement quand on se trouve avec des amis, la politesse passe avant tout. Un désir de godaille les avait peu à peu chatouillés et engourdis tous les quatre.—Zola,L’Assommoir.
Godan,m.(popular),falsehood.Connaître le ——,to be wide-awake,not easily duped, “to know what’s o’clock.”Monter un —— à quelqu’un,to seek to deceive one, or“best”one.
Godancer(popular),to allow oneself to be duped, “to be done brown.”
Godard,m.(popular),a husband who has just become a father.
Goddam, orgoddem,m.(popular),Englishman.
(Entraînant l’Anglais.) Maintenant, allons jouer des bibelots ... voilà un goddam qui va y aller d’autant.—P.Mahalin.
Godet,m.(popular),drinking glass. A common expression among the lower orders, and a very old one.
Godiche,adj.(familiar and popular),simple-minded,foolish.
Que tu es donc godiche, Toinon, de venir tous les matins comme ça.—Gavarni.
Godiller(popular),to be merry;to be carnally excited.
Godilleur,m.(popular),man who is fond of the fair sex, a “molrower,” or “beard-splitter.”
Godillot,m.(popular),military shoe. From the name of the maker; (military)recruit, or “Johnny raw.”
Godiveau rance,m.(popular),stingy man.
Tu peux penser si je le traite de godiveau rance chaque fois qu’il me refuse un petit cadeau.—E.Monteil.
Goffeur,m.(thieves’),locksmith. From the Celticgoff,a smith.
Gogaille,f.(popular),banquet.
Gogo,m.(familiar),simple-minded man who invests his capital in swindling concerns, “gull;”man easily fleeced.
Quand les allumeurs de l’Hôtel des Ventes eurent jugé le gogo en complet entraînement, il y eut un arrêt momentané parmi les enchères intéressées.—A.Sirven.
(Popular)Gogo,greenhorn, “flat.” The term, with this signification, is hardly slang.Villonuses it in hisBallade de Villon et de la Grosse Margot(15th century).
Riant, m’assiet le poing sur mon sommet, Gogo me dit, et me fiert le jambot.
Gogotte,adj.(popular),spiritless; weak; bad. Fromgogo.Avoir la vue ——,to have a weak sight. A corruption of cocotte,disease of the eyes.
Goguenau,gogueno,goguenot,m.(military),tin can holding one litre, used by soldiers to make coffee or soup; alsohowitzer; (military and popular)privy.Passer la jambe à Thomas ——,to empty the privy tub.Hirondelle de ——,low street-walker, or “draggle-tail.” SeeGadoue.
Goguette,f.(popular),vocal society;wine-shop.Etre en ——,to be merrily inclined; to be enjoying oneself, the bottle being the chief factor in the source of enjoyment.
Goguetter(popular),to make merry. From the old wordgoguette,amusement.
Goguettier,m.(popular),member of a vocal society.
Goinfre,m.(thieves’),precentor. An allusion to his opening his mouth like that of a glutton.
Goiper(thieves’),to prowl at night for evil purposes, “quærens quem devoret.”
Goipeur,m.(thieves’),night thief.
Goipeuse,f.(thieves’),prostitute who prowls about the country. SeeGadoue.
Goîtreux,m.(familiar),silly fellow;man devoid of all intellectual power. Synonymous ofcrétin.
Goje(Breton cant),well;yes.
Golgother(familiar),to give oneself the airs of a martyr. The allusion is obvious.
Gomberger(thieves’),to reckon.
Gombeux,adj.(popular),nasty.
Gomme,f.(familiar),fashion;elegance, “swelldom.”La haute——,the“pink”of fashion.Etre de la ——,to be a dandy, a “masher.” SeeGommeux. The term formerly signified excellence, and was used specially in reference to wine.
Mais non pas d’un pareil trésor,Que cette souveraine gomme.Parnasse des Muses.
Mais non pas d’un pareil trésor,Que cette souveraine gomme.Parnasse des Muses.
Mais non pas d’un pareil trésor,Que cette souveraine gomme.Parnasse des Muses.
Mais non pas d’un pareil trésor,
Que cette souveraine gomme.
Parnasse des Muses.
Gommeuse,f.(familiar),showily dressed girl or woman, a “dasher.”
Gommeux,adj.andm.(familiar),pretty;dandy.
C’était elle qui, pour la première fois, recevant un de ses amants astiqué des pieds à la tête, empesé, ciré, frotté, tiré, semblant, en deux mots, trempé dans de la gomme arabique en dissolution, avait dit de lui: un gommeux! Le petit-crevé avait un successeur.—E.Monteil,Cornebois.
The different appellations corresponding to various periods are as follows:—Under LouisXIV., “mouchar,muguet,petit-maître,talon-rouge.” After the revolution of 1793, “muscadin.” Under the government of the Directoire from ’95 to ’99, “incroyable,merveilleux.” Then from the Restoration come in succession, “mirliflor,élégant,dandy,lion,fashionable, andgandin.” Under the Third Empire, “cocodès,crevé,petit-crevé,col-cassé.” From 1870 to the present day, “gommeux,luisant,poisseux,boudiné,pschutteux,exhumé,gratiné,faucheur, and finallybécarre.” The English have the terms “swell, gorger, masher,” and the old expression “flasher,” mentioned in the following quotation from theEnglish Supplementary Glossary:—
They are reckoned the flashers of the place, yet everybody laughs at them for their airs, affectations, and tonish graces and impertinences.—Madame d’Arblay,Diary.
TheSpectatortermed a dandy a “Jack-pudding,” and Goldsmith calls him a “macaroni,” “The Italians,” he says, “are extremely fond of a dish they call macaroni, ... and as they consider this as thesummum bonumof all good eating, so they figuratively call everything they think elegant and uncommon macaroni. Our young travellers, who generally catch the follies of the countries they visit, judged that the title ofmacaroniwas very applicable to aclever fellow; and accordingly, to distinguish themselves as such, they instituted a club under this denomination, the members of which were supposed to be the standards oftaste. The infection atSt.James’s was soon caught in the City, and we have nowmacaroniesof every denomination, from the Colonel of the Train’d-Bands down to the printer’s devil or errand-boy. They indeed make a most ridiculous figure, with hats of an inch in the brim, that do not cover, but lie upon the head; with about two pounds of fictitious hair, formed into what is called aclub, hanging down their shoulders, as white as a baker’s sack; the end of the skirt of their coat reaching not down to the first button of their breeches.... Such a figure, essenced and perfumed, with a bunch of lace sticking out underitschin, puzzles the common passenger to determine thething’ssex; and many have said,by your leave, madam, without intending to give offence.”
The Americans give the name of “dude” to one who apes the manners of swells. It may be this word originated from a comparison between the tight and light-coloured trousers sported by swells, and the stem of a pipe termed “dudeen” by the Irish.Compare the French expression “boudiné,” literallysausage-like, for a swell in tight clothing.
Gomorrhe,m.(familiar),un émigré de ——,Sodomite.
Gonce,gonse,gonze,m.(thieves’),man, or “cove.”
Goncesse,gonzesse,f.(thieves’),woman, “hay-bag, cooler, or shakester.”
Goncier, orgonce,m.(thieves’), man, or “cove.”
Gondolé,adj.(thieves’ and popular),avoir l’air ——,to look ill.Un homme ——,high-shouldered man.
Gonfle-bougres,m.(thieves’),beans, the staple food of prisoners.
Gonfler.SeeBallon. (Popular)Se ——,to be elated.
Mon vieux, c’que tu peux t’gonfler d’gagner des coupes Renaissance!—Le Cri du Peuple, 17 Août, 1886.
Se —— le jabot,to look conceited.
Tu es un bon artiste, c’est vrai, mais, vrai aussi, tu te gonfles trop le jabot.—E.Monteil.
Gonsalé,m.(thieves’),man, or “cove.”Si le —— fait de l’harmonarés,il faut le balancarguer dans la vassarés,if the man is not quiet, we’ll throw him into the water.
Gonsarès,m.(thieves’),man. A form ofgonse.
Gonse,m.(thieves’ and popular),man, or “cove.”